Stakeholders Synergise To End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists In Nigeria
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
The federal government of Nigeria has promised to uphold actions that would end impunity for crimes against journalists in the country especially as the 2023 election campaign gathers momentum.
Stakeholders at a two-day policy dialogue in commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists with the theme: “Media, Civil Society and Violence-free Election in Nigeria” agreed that the best approach to shuning electoral offences with the sole aim of making healthier processes at all levels of electioneering campaigns is ensuring the safety of journalists on the field.
Declaring the event open, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said, the Federal and some state governments have taken precautionary and proactive steps in taming the tides of crimes against journalists.
According to him, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is committed to bringing to an end undemocratic and uncultured activities through the administration of legally justifiable approaches on the perpetrators in order to serve as deterrence to others.
He called on those involved in electioneering process to appreciate the fact that political activities are to be observed in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Law hence the need for all to join hand in making sure that all campaign utterances are humane and in conformity with global best practices, thereby contributing to violence-free electoral process.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed represented by the Special Assistant to the President on media, Femi Adesina, re-echoed government’s determination to ensure the freedom of information and the safety of Journalists in the country.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who gave an overview of the celebration, said the United Nations passed a resolution at its 68th General Assembly in 2013 proclaiming November 2 of every year as International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, IDEI, in response to the threats of violence and crimes journalists often encounter in the course of carrying out their job and the apparent failure of governments to bring the perpetrators of such violence and crimes to justice.
The INEC boss represented by Mohammed Haruna, urged Journalists, to regardless of religion, region or ethnicity, remember they are all stakeholders in the country’s peace and progress and as such, alongside other stakeholders, must play their own role so that next year’s General Election will be the best in the country’s history and among the best in the world.
Others who spoke on the occasion, including the governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, represented by his Attorney General, Musa Abdullahi Lawan, and Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo of Managing Conflict in Nigeria Programme agreed that the media can determine if the election is peaceful.
